Chemical Profession Research Articles

On Kaolin and Its Substitutes; or, The Management of Whiteness

How did European attempts to imitate the beauty of East Asian porcelain generate competitions to find marketable forms of whiteness? This essay describes the adoption of aluminum-rich kaolin clay for the making of “gallantry wares” for courtly elites—and then the process of seeking ever-cheaper substitutes as more and more consumers set their hearts on acquiring their own porcelain trinkets and tableware. It shows how, in the search for cost savings and aided especially by professional chemists, the porcelain industry helped to democratize whiteness and to reinforce its associations with cleanliness, purity, and timeless beauty.

Call for nominations for Southern Chemist Award

The Memphis Local Section of the American Chemical Society is soliciting nominations for its 2023 Southern Chemist Award, which recognizes distinguished service to the chemical profession in the southern US. Nominees should be US citizens who have worked in the South at least a decade. They must also have actively participated in ACS events and brought recognition to the region through their work. Nominations should include a biography, a brief account of the nominee’s technical accomplishments, a curriculum vitae, a list of publications and patents, a list of ACS activities, and two seconding letters. Email PDFs to Timothy Brewster, chair of the Memphis Local Section, at tbrwster@memphis.edu by Sept. 1.

A QUÍMICA NA LITERATURA DE PRIMO LEVI: ASPECTOS FILOSÓFICOS SOBRE EXPERIMENTAÇÃO, MATÉRIA E OFÍCIO QUÍMICO

CHEMISTRY IN PRIMO LEVI’S LITERATURE: PHILOSOPHICAL ASPECTS ON EXPERIMENTATION, MATTER AND THE PROFESSION OF CHEMISTRY. The Italian chemist Primo Levi (1919-1987) published a testimonial literature about the period he was captive in Auschwitz, later exploring other literary genres. In his work as a whole, the science-art relationship takes place both in terms of content (when chemistry and scientific knowledge are themes) and form (when the author appropriates the language and logic of science to communicate his experiences, especially those lived in the concentration camp). Three themes related to the chemical universe are present in Levi’s writings: experiments, man’s relationship with matter and chemistry as a work. In this article, we bring these topics closer to current discussions in the field of philosophy of chemistry. The philosophical discussion and Primo Levi’s literature converge on the understanding that experiments assumes a particular role in chemistry, that matter is a central category for this science and that the chemical profession raises ethical questions, such as those related to impacts of the incessant production of new substances.

Call for nominations for Southern Chemist Award

The American Chemical Society Memphis Section seeks nominations for its 2022 Southern Chemist Award, which recognizes distinguished service to the chemical profession in the southern US. Nominees should be US citizens who have worked in the South for at least 10 years and have at least a 10-year record of accomplishment. In addition, nominees must have actively participated in ACS events and have brought recognition to the South through their work. Nominations should consist of a letter containing biographical details and a brief account of the nominee’s technical accomplishments, a curriculum vitae, a list of publications and patents, a list of ACS activities, and two seconding letters from individuals who are not at the nominee’s place of employment. Email PDFs to Analice Sowell at analice.sowell@musowls.org by Aug. 15.

What Makes a Professional Chemist? Embedding Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion into Chemistry Skills Training for Undergraduates

What Makes a Professional Chemist? Embedding Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion into Chemistry Skills Training for Undergraduates

Call for nominations for Esselen Award

The Northeastern Section of the American Chemical Society (NESACS) is inviting nominations for the 35th Gustavus John Esselen Award for Chemistry in the Public Interest. The award is given annually to a chemical scientist whose scientific and technical work has contributed significantly to the public well-being thereby communicating the positive values of the chemical profession. The award, which consists of a bronze medal and $5,000, will be presented at NESACS’s April 2022 meeting. Nominations should be submitted as a single PDF and should include a letter signed by the primary sponsor, short supporting statements from two cosponsors, a biography of the nominee, and copies of pertinent articles and popular news and feature articles indicative of public interest. For more information, visit nesacs.org/awards_esselen.html . Nominations are due by Oct. 15 to Karen Allen at drkallen@bu.edu. Copy jpipergrady@gmail.com on the email. Please send announcements of awards to acsnews.cen@acs.org.

For director-at-large: Rodney M. Bennett

Central North Carolina Section. Winding Trails, Winston-Salem, North Carolina. Academic record: Wake Forest University, BS, biology and chemistry, 1979. Honors: ACS Fellow, 2015; ACS Agrochemical Division, fellow, 2005; Royal Australian Institute of Chemists, fellow, 2006; American Institute of Chemists, fellow, 1989; National Certification Commission in Chemistry, certified professional chemist, 1985. Professional positions (for past 10 years): Winding Trails, principal and owner, 2016–; Critical Path Services, vice president, 2015, business development, 2016–17; Jai Research Foundation America, vice president operations, 2007–15; Cerexagri, group leader, 1999–2007. Service in ACS national offices: Committee on Committees, 2019–21; Committee on Divisional Activities, 2016–18, 2013–18, chair; Committee on Strategic Planning, 2016–18; Council Policy Committee, (nonvoting), 2016–18; Strategic Planning Committee, 2016–18; ACS Safety Special Planning Session, 2017; Advisory Board, Journal of Agriculture and Food Chemistry , 2003–. Service in ACS offices: Agrochemicals Division: councilor, 2012–20; alternate councilor, 2009–11, 1997–2001; chair, 2004; chair-elect, 2003; vice chair, 2002. Central North

Chemophobia cured by chemists: chemists as children of the Sun.

The success of chemists in the fight against COVID-19 provides us with a unique opportunity for strengthening the position of chemistry in society and suppressing chemophobia which has badly affected the image and development of chemistry over several decades. By highlighting the unique merits of chemistry in controlling infections and healing diseases, we propose developing a communication strategy “Chemists as children of the Sun”. The time is ripe for chemists to take control of the story of chemistry. We believe that chemists must help the public to see chemistry in a whole new light. Only a positive perception of chemistry and the chemical profession will secure a sufficient supply of new talents, ideas, and also financial resources for the development of this unique and irreplaceable science for humanity.Graphic abstract

Free-Base Porphyrins as Chemical Probes for Heavy Metal Ions Detection

Heavy metals are one of the major contaminants in water. They come from various human activities which include mining, smelting, and industrial discharge to name a few. Heavy metals pose a toxic danger to human beings even at their minute concentration. Current methods of detection suffer from numerous limitations such as complicated sample preparation, high cost of instruments, and the need for professional chemists. These challenges make them unsuitable for in situ and real-time monitoring of samples. Fluorescence spectroscopy has emerged as an alternative for sensing applications. They have high sensitivity, good selectivity, and only require small amounts of fluorescent probes. In this study, free base porphyrins were selected as a fluorescent chemical probe to detect the presence of commonly discharge heavy metals – lead (Pb2+) ions and nickel (Ni2+) ions. Solution-based assay and fluorescent measurements were used throughout the study. From the fluorescent analysis, porphyrins showed more selective and sensitivity towards Pb2+ ions. The study also investigated the photostability of porphyrins when porphyrins solutions were put under ambiance light conditions. This solution-based assay fluorescent measurement shows promising potential application of porphyrins to be used as chemical probes on another sensor medium such as on optical fibre and thin film study.

Combining Jigsaws, Rule-Based Learning, and Retrieval Practice Improves IUPAC Nomenclature Competence

IUPAC nomenclature competence (INC)—defined as the ability to name chemical structures using IUPAC rules and draw structures from IUPAC names—is considered a foundational skill in the training of professional chemists. For students of non-European language background, the challenge of acquiring INC is often complicated by the fact that IUPAC rules necessitate comprehension of European language elements. These include European nomenclature rules, prefixes, and suffixes. INC acquisition in Asia has traditionally occurred through undergraduate organic chemistry lecture courses. The present study demonstrates, in a South Korean context, that outcomes in such courses can sometimes be unsatisfactory, pointing to a need for reforms. To improve performance, a series of three nondidactic learning interventions—jigsaws, rule-based learning, and retrieval practice—were implemented over the course of a five-year period. Undergraduate focus groups were used to identify student-centered learning challenges, and this information was used to help inform the design of interventions. Performance outcomes were analyzed as the itemized competence in individual IUPAC rules when solving either name-to-structure or structure-to-name problems. These data demonstrate the combined implementation of all three interventions yielded substantial improvements for both question types. Concurrently, a context-specific learning attitudes survey showed most of the learning challenges identified in focus groups were mitigated through the reform process. Given that INC acquisition is a common challenge for students across the globe, the present study offers a compelling model for improving terminology competence across a wide range of diverse STEM contexts.

Supporting ACS’s core value of diversity, inclusion, and respect

As American Chemical Society members, we are living through a time when acting on is critical to the current functioning and future direction of the society . These core values are the following: Passion for chemistry and the global chemistry enterprise Focus on members Professionalism, safety, and ethics Diversity, inclusion, and respect The more deeply we understand, embrace, and act on these core values, the stronger our highly regarded chemistry profession will become. ACS’s core value of focusing on members, for example, plays out in multiple ways as we expand our reach into the chemistry enterprise, advance key aspects of professionalism and best practices in chemistry and safety, and embrace chemists from all corners of the profession. Recent events in the US and around the world have focused our attention on the core value of diversity, inclusion, and respect, which states, “We believe in the strength of diversity in all

Nominations open for Southern Chemist Award

The American Chemical Society Memphis Section seeks nominations for its 2020 Southern Chemist Award, which recognizes distinguished service to the chemical profession in the southern US. Nominees s...

Design of a Master of Science Sustainable Chemistry

Chemistry is the central science for value creation by physical products in the socio-economic system. Unsustainable processes over many decades have led to pressure on the planet and an urgent need for prioritizing sustainable development on a global level. Due to the central role of chemistry, the chemistry profession is an important stakeholder group to shape the transformation towards sustainable development. In order to provide relevant skills, higher education in chemistry requires a view of chemistry in the context of the framework of sustainability and the uptake of new content that is not covered in conventional teaching of chemistry. Such content includes environmental chemistry and toxicology, benign design of chemicals (teaching of chemistry), but also a broader context such as alternative business models and overarching knowledge of international policies and strategies to implement change with respect to chemical industry, chemical products and business (teaching about chemistry) in favor of sustainable development. In this paper, we describe a first of its kind program following this approach: An M.Sc. Sustainable Chemistry. It addresses the above mentioned topics and aims for international professionals of the chemical sector.

Consultancy as a Career in Late Nineteenth and Twentieth Century Britain

This paper examines the continuing role of consultants within the profession of chemistry in the late nineteenth and twentieth centuries. Consultants were a prominent part of the profession in the late nineteenth century, but were overtaken in numerical terms by chemists working in academia, government and industry in the first half of the twentieth century. The paper demonstrates, however, that numbers later stabilised and then goes on to examine the characteristics of those chemists who worked as consultants as compared to the wider chemical community. It argues that the survival of consultancy is best explained in terms of a number of differing models of consultancy work. Whilst for some chemists, consultancy was their main occupation, for others it was a phase in their careers or a secondary occupation alongside another post. The continuing value of consultancy work was related to its very versatility.

Chemophobia versus the identity of chemists: heroes of chemistry as an effective communication strategy.

Decades of chemophobia are taking a high toll on chemistry. As current surveys suggest, people are displaying an irrational desire to live in a world without chemistry, but at the same time are unable to answer trivial chemistry questions. Constant questioning of the importance of chemistry induced by chemophobia leads to a weakening of the identity of chemists and can have negative consequences on the reproduction of chemistry. The need for the support of a positive perception of the chemical profession and an offer of positive examples for self-identification is the result. Everyday communication thus becomes the background on which the determination of the identity of the chemist takes place. The new communication strategy, which we call “heroes of chemistry”, aims not only to add a much-needed human touch to chemistry communications, but also to create the conditions for strengthening the identity of the chemist.Graphic abstract

SMART CP (Simulation Methods Analysis Rule Tech Chemistry Profession) Company and Android Application in Three Areas Regular Work for Future Solution to Decrease Unemployment and Develop Human Resources

Unemployment is one of the main employment challenges that challenge developing countries, including Indonesia. (Muslim,2014). There are many competent human resources but many are unemployed, this is because there are some fraudulent parties or their reach is very difficult. SMART CP is a Company and application designed specifically in the field of chemistry, it places one's work in one of the fields they will choose from 3 Chemistry jobs provided by SMART CP (Teachers, Analysts / Labs, and Entrepreneurs) This application has been created to decrease unemployment and develop Human Resources. The research methods used are qualitative and quantitative as well as additions to the research methods. some purpose of this Application first is, to develop students' online learning media, to facilitate teaching staff in the bookkeeping of teacher learning devices, to obtain information directly vertically from the Ministry of Education and Culture.

Esselen Award to Geoffrey W. Coates

Geoffrey W. Coates, the Tisch University Professor of Chemistry and Chemical Biology at Cornell University, is the winner of the Gustavus John Esselen Award for Chemistry in the Public Interest. Coates is being recognized for his development of biodegradable polymers from renewable resources. Applications of his work include safer food packaging, improved production of electronic devices, battery technology, and solid waste disposal. He will receive the award during a ceremony at Harvard University on April 16 and deliver a lecture titled “In Pursuit of the Perfect Plastic.” The American Chemical Society Northeastern Section presents the award annually to honor outstanding scientific achievement that communicates the positive values of the chemical profession.

Analytical chemistry students’ explanatory statements in the context of their corresponding lecture

Conceptually understanding chemistry requires the ability to transition among representational levels to use an understanding of submicroscopic entities and properties to explain macroscopic phenomena. Past literature describes student struggles with these transitions but provides limited information about upper-level post-secondary chemistry students’ abilities to transition among levels. This group is of particular interest as they are engaging in potentially their final training before entering a career as professional chemists, thus if students are likely to develop this skill during their formal education it should be manifest among this group. This study characterized analytical chemistry students’ responses to open-ended assessments on acid–base titrations and thin-layer chromatography for the use of sub-microscopic entities or properties to explain these macroscopic phenomena. Further, to understand whether explanatory statements were an expectation inherent in the instructional context of the setting, the analytical chemistry instructor's lectures on acid–base titrations and thin-layer chromatography were analyzed with the same framework. The analysis found that students seldom invoked explanatory statements within their responses and that congruence between lectures and responses to assessment was primarily limited to the use of macroscopic, descriptive terms. Despite the fact that the lecture in class regularly invoked explanatory statements in one context, this did not translate to student use of explanatory statements. To further test the hypothesis that analytical chemistry students struggle with explanatory statements, a follow-on study was also conducted among a second cohort of students reviewing their responses when specifically prompted to use sub-microscopic entities to explain a macroscopic phenomenon. The results suggest that fewer than half of the students showed proficiency on generating explanatory statements when explicitly prompted to do so. Instructional implications to promote explanatory statements are proposed in the discussion.

The history of the formation of national models of chemical profession

The history of the formation of national models of chemical profession

The Evolving Role of Professional Societies in International Collaboration: Partners for Progress and Prosperity.

The chemistry enterprise is evolving, becoming increasingly multidisciplinary and global. The roles of societies that support the chemistry profession must also evolve and adapt. Traditional roles for professional societies have included sharing research, providing access to information and technologies, and supporting education excellence. Global challenges now provide sister international societies with opportunities to collaborate on: 1) improving the public image of chemistry, 2) identifying and supporting global job opportunities as markets shift, and 3) promoting diversity and inclusion to accelerate progress. Moreover, societies can work together to foster sustainable development by tackling grand challenges to provide clean water, affordable energy, zero hunger, and much more. Sister society collaboration on such challenges, as reflected in the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, is the basis for the American Chemical Society's new Chemistry Enterprise Partnerships. Professional societies can truly help transform our world by partnering for progress and prosperity.